Chlorpyrifos, a chlorinated organophosphate (CPF), is among the most widely used insecticides worldwide. In the United States, it remains a fixture in agriculture, showing up in nonorganic fruits, vegetables, grains, and even in the air and dust near farm fields, despite a ban on residential use since 2001. Globally, its use continues at scale.
Now, researchers at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health have uncovered troubling evidence: prenatal exposure to chlorpyrifos is linked to measurable changes in brain structure and reduced motor skills in children and teens growing up in New York City.
As scientists uncover the hidden costs of this everyday chemical, the focus shifts from what’s on our plates to what’s affecting the future health of our children. Click through the gallery for the full story.